U.S. patent application number 12/964905 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-16 for method and apparatus for transmitting video contents compressed by codec.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hae-young JUN, Dong-seek PARK, Sung-bum PARK.
Application Number | 20110142122 12/964905 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44399073 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110142122 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Sung-bum ; et
al. |
June 16, 2011 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING VIDEO CONTENTS COMPRESSED BY
CODEC
Abstract
A method and apparatus for transmitting compressed video content
are provided. The method includes transmitting a codec selection
request frame, the codec selection request frame including an
identifier of one or more codecs to be used to compress video
content and requesting approval of the use of the codec, receiving
a codec selection response frame, the codec selection response
frame including result information indicating whether the use of
the codec is approved, and transmitting video content frames for
the video content compressed by the approved codec based on the
codec selection response frame. Each video content frame includes
frame type information indicating a type of compression applied to
the video content included in the video content frame.
Inventors: |
PARK; Sung-bum;
(Seongnam-si, KR) ; JUN; Hae-young; (Seoul,
KR) ; PARK; Dong-seek; (Yongin-si, KR) |
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
44399073 |
Appl. No.: |
12/964905 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61294632 |
Jan 13, 2010 |
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61294218 |
Jan 12, 2010 |
|
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61285247 |
Dec 10, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
375/240.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 19/12 20141101;
H04N 19/172 20141101; H04N 19/162 20141101; H04N 19/164 20141101;
H04N 19/46 20141101; H04N 21/6336 20130101; H04N 21/2353 20130101;
H04N 21/6379 20130101; H04N 21/25808 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
375/240.01 |
International
Class: |
H04N 11/04 20060101
H04N011/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 13, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0089461 |
Claims
1. A method of transmitting compressed at least one video content,
the method comprising: transmitting a codec selection request
frame, the codec selection request frame comprising an identifier
of at least one codec to be used to compress at least one video
content and requesting approval of a use of the at least one codec;
receiving a codec selection response frame, the codec selection
response frame comprising at least one result information
indicating whether the use of the at least one codec is approved;
and transmitting a video content frame comprising the at least one
video content compressed by the approved at least one codec based
on the codec selection response frame, wherein the video content
frame further comprises frame type information indicating a type of
compression applied to the at least one video content in the video
content frame.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame type information
indicates whether the at least one video content in the video
content frame has been compressed by a first codec, which is a
default codec, or by one of a plurality of second codecs, which are
codecs provided by codec vendors.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame type information
comprises a first field indicating whether the at least one video
content in the video content frame has been compressed by a first
codec, which is a default codec, or by one of a plurality of second
codecs, which are codecs provided by codec vendors.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the frame type information
further comprises a second field indicating which one of the
plurality of second codecs has been used to compress the at least
one video content in the video content frame.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame type information
comprises a field indicating which one of a group of codecs
including a first codec, which is a default codec, and a plurality
of second codecs, which are codecs provided by codec vendors, has
been used to compress the at least one video content in the video
content frame.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, from a
first device, an identifier of at least one codec supported by the
first device to a second device; and receiving, by the first
device, an identifier of at least one codec supported by the second
device from the second device, wherein the identifier of the at
least one codec included in the codec selection request frame is
generated based on the identifier of the at least one codec
supported by the second device.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, from a
first device, a capability request frame requesting information
about a capability of a second device to the second device; and
receiving a capability response frame comprising an identifier of
at least one codec supported by the second device from the second
device in response to the capability request frame, wherein the
identifier of the at least one codec included in the codec
selection request frame is generated based on the capability
response frame.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the capability request frame
comprises a codec support field indicating whether the first device
supports second codecs, which are codecs provided by codec vendors,
and a codec number field indicating a number of second codecs
supported by the first device.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the capability request frame
further comprises a codec identifier field indicating identifiers
of the second codecs.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an
identifier of the at least one supported codec, wherein the
identifier of the at least one codec included in the codec
selection request frame is generated based on the received
identifier of the at least one supported codec.
11. An apparatus for transmitting compressed at least one video
content, the apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that
transmits a codec selection request frame, the codec selection
request frame comprising an identifier of at least one codec to be
used to compress at least one video content and requesting approval
of a use of the at least one codec; and a reception unit that
receives a codec selection response frame, the codec selection
response frame comprising at least one result information
indicating whether the use of the at least one codec is approved,
wherein the transmission unit further transmits a video content
frame comprising the at least one video content compressed by the
approved at least one codec based on the codec selection response
frame, and the video content frames further comprises frame type
information indicating a type of compression applied to the at
least one video content in the video content frame.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the frame type information
indicates whether the at least one video content in the video
content frame has been compressed by a first codec, which is a
default codec, or by one of a plurality of second codecs, which are
codecs provided by codec vendors.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the frame type information
comprises a first field indicating whether the at least one video
content in the video content frame has been compressed by a first
codec, which is a default codec, or by one of a plurality of second
codecs, which are codecs provided by codec vendors.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the frame type information
further comprises a second field indicating which one of the
plurality of second codecs has been used to compress the at least
one video content in the video content frame.
15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the frame type information
comprises a field indicating which one of a group of codecs
including a first codec, which is a default codec, and a plurality
of second codecs, which are codecs provided by codec vendors, has
been used to compress the at least one video content in the video
content frame.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the transmission unit is
included in a first device and further transmits an identifier of
at least one codec supported by the first device to a second
device, the reception unit is included in the first device and
further receives an identifier of at least one codec supported by
the second device from the second device, and the identifier of the
at least one codec in the codec selection request frame is
generated based on the identifier of the at least one codec
supported by the second device.
17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the transmission unit is
included in a first device and further transmits a capability
request frame requesting information about a capability of a second
device to the second device, the reception unit further receives a
capability response frame comprising an identifier of at least one
codec supported by the second device from the second device in
response to the capability request frame, and the identifier of the
at least one codec included in the codec selection request frame is
generated based on the capability response frame.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the capability request frame
comprises a codec support field indicating whether the first device
supports second codecs, which are codecs provided by codec vendors,
and a codec number field indicating a number of second codecs
supported by the first device.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the capability request frame
further comprises a codec identifier field indicating identifiers
of the second codecs.
20. The method of claim 11, wherein: the reception unit further
receives an identifier of at least one supported codec, and the
identifier of the at least one codec in the codec selection request
frame is generated based on the received identifier of the at least
one supported codec.
21. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a
program for executing the method of claim 1.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one codec comprises
one codec and another codec, the one codec and the anther codec
being different.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2010-0089461, filed on Sep. 13, 2010, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, and claims the benefit of
priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/285,247, filed on
Dec. 10, 2009, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/294,218, filed
on Jan. 12, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/294,632,
filed on Jan. 13, 2010 in the U.S. PTO, the disclosures of which
are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Methods and apparatuses consistent with exemplary exemplary
embodiments relate to transmitting video contents compressed by a
codec, and more particularly, to transmitting at least one video
content compressed by using at least one of a plurality of
different codecs.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Methods of transmitting video contents between devices over
a wireless network may include a method of transmitting video
contents in a non-compressive manner and a method of transmitting
video contents compressed by a codec.
[0006] When video contents are transmitted in a non-compressive
manner, the video contents can be transmitted without any
degradation in quality of the video contents. However, since
non-compressive transmission takes a long time, it is difficult to
use non-compressive transmission when the video contents are
reproduced in real time or a bandwidth of a communication link
between devices is small.
[0007] As a result, for a small bandwidth communication link or
real-time reproduction of video contents, the video contents are
transmitted in a form compressed by a codec. In this case, however,
a receiving side needs to be notified about the type of codec used
for the compression of the video contents.
SUMMARY
[0008] One or more exemplary embodiments may address the
disadvantages described above and other disadvantages not described
above. However, it is understood that one or more exemplary
embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages
described above, and may not overcome any of the disadvantages
described above.
[0009] One or more exemplary embodiments provide a method and
apparatus for transmitting video content compressed by a codec.
[0010] According one or more exemplary embodiments, there is
provided a method of transmitting compressed at least one video
content. The method includes transmitting a codec selection request
frame, the codec selection request frame comprising an identifier
of at least one codec to be used to compress at least one video
content and requesting approval of a use of the at least one codec;
receiving a codec selection response frame, the codec selection
response frame comprising at least one result information
indicating whether the use of the at least one codec is approved;
and transmitting a video content frame comprising the at least one
video content compressed by the approved at least one codec based
on the codec selection response frame, wherein the video content
frame further comprises frame type information indicating a type of
compression applied to the at least one video content in the video
content frame.
[0011] The frame type information may indicate whether the at least
one video content in the video content frame has been compressed by
a first codec, which is a default codec, or by one of a plurality
of second codecs, which are codecs provided by codec vendors.
[0012] The frame type information may include a first field
indicating whether the at least one video content in the video
content frame has been compressed by a first codec, which is a
default codec, or by one of a plurality of second codecs, which are
codecs provided by codec vendors.
[0013] The frame type information may further include a second
field indicating which one of the plurality of second codecs has
been used to compress the at least one video content in each of the
video content frame.
[0014] The frame type information may include a field indicating
which one of a group of codecs including a first codec, which is a
default codec, and a plurality of second codecs which are codecs
provided by codec vendors, has been used to compress the at least
one video content in the video content frame.
[0015] The method may further include transmitting, from a first
device, an identifier of at least one codec supported by the first
device to a second device and receiving, by the first device, an
identifier of at least one codec supported by the second device
from the second device, in which the identifier of the at least one
codec included in the codec selection request frame is generated
based on the identifier of the at least one codec supported by the
second device.
[0016] The method may further include transmitting, from a first
device, a capability request frame requesting information about a
capability of a second device to the second device and receiving a
capability response frame including the identifier of at least one
codec supported by the second device from the second device in
response to the capability request frame, in which the identifier
of the at least one codec included in the codec selection request
frame is generated based on the capability response frame.
[0017] The capability request frame may include a fourthcodec
support field indicating whether the first device supports second
codecs which are codecs provided by codec vendors, and a codec
number field indicating the number of second codecs supported by
the first device.
[0018] The capability request frame may further include a codec
identifier field indicating identifiers of the second codecs.
[0019] The method may further include receiving the identifier of
at least one supported codec, in which the identifier of the at
least one codec in the codec selection request frame is generated
based on the received identifier of the at least one supported
codec.
[0020] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, there is
provided an apparatus for transmitting compressed at least one
video content. The apparatus includes a transmission unit that
transmits a codec selection request frame, the codec selection
request frame comprising an identifier of at least one codec to be
used to compress at least one video content and requesting approval
of a use of the at least one codec; and a reception unit that
receives a codec selection response frame, the codec selection
response frame comprising at least one result information
indicating whether the use of the at least one codec is approved,
wherein the transmission unit further transmits a video content
frame comprising the at least one video content compressed by the
approved at least one codec based on the codec selection response
frame, and the video content frame further comprises frame type
information indicating a type of compression applied to the at
least one video content in the video content frame.
[0021] According to one or more exemplary embodiments, there is
provided a computer-readable recording medium having recorded
thereon a program for executing a method of transmitting compressed
at least one video content. The method includes transmitting a
codec selection request frame, the codec selection request frame
comprising an identifier of at least one codec to be used to
compress at least one video content and requesting approval of a
use of the at least one codec; receiving a codec selection response
frame, the codec selection response frame comprising at least one
result information indicating whether the use of the at least one
codec is approved; and transmitting a video content frame
comprising the at least one video content compressed by the
approved at least one codec based on the codec selection response
frame, wherein the video content frame further comprises frame type
information indicating a type of compression applied to the at
least one video content in the video content frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The above and/or other aspects will become more apparent by
describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference
to the attached drawings in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting
video contents, according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting
video contents, according to another exemplary embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting
video contents, according to another exemplary embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of receiving
information about a codec supported by a second device, according
to an exemplary embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of receiving
information about a codec supported by a second device, according
to another exemplary embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a structure of a codec
selection request frame according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a structure of a codec
selection request frame according to another exemplary
embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing a structure of a codec
selection response frame according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a structure of a codec
selection response frame according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a structure of a video
content frame according to exemplary embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing a frame type field
according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a structure of a frame
type field according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 13 is a diagram for describing a structure of a frame
type field according to another exemplary embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing a structure of a frame
type field according to another exemplary embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 15 is a diagram for describing a structure of a
capability request frame according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 16 is a diagram for describing a structure of a
capability response frame according to an exemplary embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 17 is a diagram for describing information about a
capability of a first device according to an exemplary
embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 18 is a diagram for describing information about a
capability of a first device according to another exemplary
embodiment; and
[0041] FIG. 19 is a block diagram of an apparatus for transmitting
video contents according to an exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Expressions
such as "at least one of," when preceding a list of elements,
modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual
elements of the list.
[0043] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting
video contents, according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0044] In operation 110, a first device transmits a codec selection
request frame, which includes an identifier of at least one codec
to be used for compression of at least one video content and
requests approval of the use of the at least one codec, to a second
device.
[0045] The first device includes a device for transmitting the
video content, and the second device includes a device for
receiving the video content.
[0046] A structure of the codec selection request frame according
to an exemplary embodiment will be described later with reference
to FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0047] In operation 120, the first device receives a codec
selection response frame, which includes at least one approval
information indicating whether the use of the at least one codec is
approved, from the second device.
[0048] If the codec selection request frame transmitted in
operation 110 includes a plurality of codec identifiers, the codec
selection response frame may also include a plurality of approval
information, each of which may indicate approval or rejection for
each of the plurality of codec identifiers.
[0049] A structure of the codec selection request frame according
to an exemplary embodiment will be described later with reference
to FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0050] In operation 130, the first device transmits video content
frames for at least one video content compressed by the approved at
least one codec to the second device, based on the codec selection
response frame.
[0051] For example, if approval of the use of a codec A and a codec
B for two transmission video contents is requested through the
codec selection request frame and the use of the codec A and the
codec B for the two video contents is approved through the codec
selection response frame, the first device compresses the first
video content by using the codec A for transmission and compresses
the second video content by using the codec B for transmission.
[0052] The first device transmits video contents in a manner that
video content is divided into a plurality of video content frames
and the divided video content frames are transmitted to the second
device. Each of the video content frames may further include frame
type information indicating a type of compression applied to the
video content of each video content frame.
[0053] A structure of the video content frame according to an
exemplary embodiment will be described later with reference to FIG.
10.
[0054] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting
video contents, according to another exemplary embodiment.
[0055] In operation 210, the first device transmits a capability
request frame requesting information about a capability of the
second device to the second device.
[0056] The capability request frame may include an identifier of at
least one codec supported by the first device. If the first device
supports a plurality of codecs, a plurality of codec identifiers
are included in the capability request frame and the plurality of
codecs may be provided by different codec vendors.
[0057] A structure of the capability request frame according to an
exemplary embodiment will be described later with reference to FIG.
15.
[0058] In operation 220, the first device receives a capability
response frame including an identifier of at least one codec
supported by the second device from the second device in response
to the capability request frame.
[0059] A structure of the capability response frame according to an
exemplary embodiment will be described later with reference to FIG.
16.
[0060] In operation 230, the first device transmits a codec
selection request frame, which includes an identifier of at least
one codec to be used for compression of at least one video content
and requests approval for the use of the at least one codec, to the
second device.
[0061] The identifier of the at least one codec included in the
codec selection request frame may be generated based on the
capability response frame received in operation 220. For example,
the identifier of the at least one codec included in the codec
selection request frame may include at least one codec supported by
the second device based on the capability response frame.
[0062] In operation 240, the first device receives a codec
selection response frame, which includes at least one approval
information indicating whether the use of the at least one codec is
approved, from the second device.
[0063] In operation 250, the first device transmits video content
frames of at least one video content compressed by the approved at
least one codec to the second device based on the codec selection
response frame.
[0064] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting
video contents, according to another exemplary embodiment.
[0065] In operation 310, the first device transmits a capability
request frame requesting information about a capability of the
second device to the second device.
[0066] In operation 320, the first device transmits information
about a capability of the first device to the second device.
[0067] For example, the first device may transmit an identifier of
at least one codec supported by the first device as the information
about the capability of the first device to the second device.
[0068] Alternatively, in another exemplary embodiment, the first
device may transmit the capability request frame including
information about the capability of the first device to the second
device in operation 310 and operation 320 may be skipped.
[0069] The information about the capability of the first device
according to an exemplary embodiment will be described later with
reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.
[0070] In operation 330, the first device receives an identifier of
at least one codec supported by the second device to the second
device in response to the capability request frame.
[0071] In operation 340, the first device determines at least one
codec to be used for compression of at least one transmission video
content based on the received identifier of the at least one codec
supported by the second device, and then transmits a codec
notification frame for notifying the second device about the
determined at least one codec.
[0072] Alternatively, in another exemplary embodiment, the first
device may transmit the identifier of the at least one codec to be
used for compression of the at least one transmission video content
to the second device, instead of the codec notification frame.
[0073] In operation 350, the first device transmits video content
frames of the at least one video content compressed by the at least
one codec about which the second device was notified to the second
device.
[0074] Before transmitting video content to the second device, the
first device creates a session with the second device for
transmission of the video content. After the session starts, when
the first device performs a process of determining a codec to be
used for compression of transmission video content as in operations
310 through 340, a process of determining a new codec is not
performed in principle until the session is ended.
[0075] However, if an unusual situation occurs, such as when
characteristics of new video content to be transmitted from the
first device to the second device are changed after the start of
the session, and thus the new transmission video content needs to
be compressed by a new codec, a process of determining the new
codec may be performed whenever the unusual situation occurs even
before the end of the session.
[0076] For example, if the second device needs to transmit other
video content frames to the first device during transmission of
video content frames from the first device to the second device, a
process of determining a new codec between the first device and the
second device may be performed.
[0077] Such features of the exemplary embodiments shown in FIG. 3
may be equally applied to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1
and the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
[0078] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and the
exemplary embodiments shown in FIG. 3, before the first device
transmits the codec selection request frame or the codec
notification frame to the second device, a process of receiving an
identifier of a codec supported by the second device from the
second device is performed. A method of receiving an identifier of
a codec supported by the second device is not limited to the
exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 or the exemplary embodiments
shown in FIG. 3.
[0079] Hereinafter, a method of receiving information about a codec
supported by the second device will be described with reference to
FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0080] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of receiving
information about a codec supported by the second device, according
to an exemplary embodiment.
[0081] In operation 410, the first device transmits an identifier
of at least one codec supported by the first device to the second
device.
[0082] In operation 420, the first device receives an identifier of
at least one codec supported by the second device which has
received the identifier of the at least one codec supported by the
first device from the first device.
[0083] At this time, the first device may generate a codec
selection request frame based on the received identifier of the at
least one codec supported by the second device.
[0084] While the first device first transmits the identifier of the
at least one codec supported by the first device to the second
device and then the second device correspondingly transmits the
identifier of the at least one codec supported by the second device
to the first device in the current exemplary embodiment, the
present invention is not limited thereto and the second device may
first transmit the identifier of the at least one codec supported
by the second device to the first device and then the first device
correspondingly transmits the identifier of the at least one codec
supported by the first device to the second device in another
exemplary embodiment.
[0085] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of receiving
information about a codec supported by the second device, according
to another exemplary embodiment.
[0086] In operation 510, the first device receives an identifier of
at least one codec supported by the second device from the second
device.
[0087] That is, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, even
though the first device does not request anything from the second
device, the second device transmits the identifier of the at least
one codec supported by the second device to the first device.
[0088] In operation 520, the first device transmits an
acknowledgement (ACK) frame indicating that the identifier of the
at least one codec supported by the second device has been received
to the second device.
[0089] In another exemplary embodiment, operation 520 may be
omitted.
[0090] FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a structure of a codec
selection request frame 600 according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 6, the codec selection request frame 600
may include a frame identifier field (Frame ID) 610, a stream
number field (StreamNum) 620, stream identifier fields (StreamID-1
to StreamID-N) 630 through 632, and vendor specific codec
identifier fields (VendorSpecificCodecID-1 to
VendorSpecificCodecID-N) 640 through 642.
[0092] The frame identifier field 610 indicates that the codec
selection request frame 600 is a frame for requesting selection of
a codec to be applied to video content to be transmitted by the
first device.
[0093] The stream number field 620 indicates the number of video
contents to be transmitted by the first device.
[0094] The stream identifier fields 630 through 632 indicate
identifiers of video contents to be transmitted by the first
device. In FIG. 6, N content identifier fields 630 through 632
corresponding to N video contents are shown.
[0095] The vendor specific codec identifier fields 640 through 642
indicate identifiers of codecs to be used for compression of video
contents to be transmitted by the first device. In FIG. 6, N vendor
specific codec identifier fields 640 through 642 corresponding to N
codecs are shown. The N vendor specific codec identifier fields 640
through 642 may include identifiers of N different types of
codecs.
[0096] FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a structure of a codec
selection request frame 700 according to another exemplary
embodiment.
[0097] Referring to FIG. 7, the codec selection request frame 700
may include a frame identifier field (FrameID) 710 and a vendor
specific codec identifier field (VendorSpecificCodecID) 720.
[0098] The frame identifier field 710 indicates that the codec
selection request frame 700 is a frame for requesting selection of
a codec to be applied to video content to be transmitted by the
first device.
[0099] The vendor specific codec identifier field 720 indicates an
identifier of a codec to be used for compression of at least one
video content to be transmitted by the first device.
[0100] For example, when the codec selection request frame 700
includes the single vendor specific codec identifier field 720, all
video contents following transmission of the codec selection
request frame 700 are requested to be compressed by the codec
corresponding to the identifier recorded in the vendor specific
codec identifier field 720 and then transmitted.
[0101] The identifier of the codec recorded in the vendor specific
codec identifier field 720 may have a format defined by a codec
vendor.
[0102] FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing a structure of a codec
selection response frame 800 according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0103] Referring to FIG. 8, the codec selection response frame 800
may include a frame identifier field (FrameID) 810, a stream number
field (StreamNum) 820, stream identifier fields (StreamID-1 to
StreamID-N) 830 through 832, and result information fields
(Result-1 to Result-N) 840 through 842.
[0104] The frame identifier field 810 indicates that the codec
selection response frame 800 is a response frame with respect to
the codec selection request frames 600 and 700.
[0105] The stream number field 820 indicates the number of video
contents to be received by the second device.
[0106] The stream identifier fields 830 through 832 indicate
identifiers of video contents to be received by the second
device.
[0107] The result information fields 840 through 842 indicate
result information regarding the use of codecs corresponding to the
identifiers of the codecs included in the codec selection request
frames 600 and 700. Some of the result information fields 840
through 842 may indicate information approving the use of the
codecs corresponding to the identifiers of the codecs included in
the codec selection request frames 600 and 700, and some of the
result information fields 840 through 842 may indicate information
rejecting the use of the codecs corresponding to the identifiers of
the codecs included in the codec selection request frames 600 and
700.
[0108] FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing a structure of a codec
selection response frame 900 according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0109] Referring to FIG. 9, the codec selection response frame 900
may include a frame identifier field (FrameID) 910 and an result
information field (Result) 920.
[0110] The frame identifier field 910 indicates that the codec
selection response frame 900 is a response frame with respect to
the codec selection request frames 600 and 700.
[0111] The result information field 920 indicates result
information regarding the use of at least one codec corresponding
to the identifier of the at least one codec included in the codec
selection request frames 600 and 700. In other words, the result
information field 920 shown in FIG. 9 may indicate whether the use
of all codecs corresponding to identifiers of all the codecs
included in the codec selection request frames 600 and 700 is
approved.
[0112] FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a structure of a video
content frame 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0113] Referring to FIG. 10, the video content frame 1000 may
include a frame type field (FrameType) 1010, a stream identifier
field (StreamID) 1020, a length field (Length) 1030, and a
compressed video payload field (Compressed video payload) 1040.
[0114] The frame type field 1010 includes frame type information
indicating a type of compression applied to video content included
in the video content frame 1000.
[0115] More specifically, the frame type field 1010 indicates
whether the video content included in the compressed video payload
field 1040 of the video content frame 1000 has been compressed by a
first codec which is a default codec or one of second codecs which
are provided by codec vendors.
[0116] The default codec may be an H.264 codec.
[0117] The frame type field 1010 may further include an identifier
of a codec used for compression of the video content included in
the compressed video payload field 1040 of the video content frame
1000.
[0118] Values of the frame type field 1010 will be described later
with reference to FIG. 11. The structure of the frame type field
1010 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 12 through
14.
[0119] The stream identifier field 1020 indicates a content
identifier of the video content included in the video content frame
1000.
[0120] The length field 1030 indicates the length of the video
content frame 1000.
[0121] The compressed video payload field 1040 includes the video
content compressed by the codec used for compression.
[0122] FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing the frame type field
1010 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 11, when the frame type field 1010 has a
value of 0x00, it means that a frame is a non-compressed video data
frame; when the frame type field 1010 has a value of 0x01, the
frame including the frame type field 1010 is a video data frame
compressed by an H.264 codec; and when the frame type field 1010
has a value of 0x02, the frame including the frame type field 1010
is a video frame compressed by a vendor specific codec designated
by a codec vendor.
[0124] FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a structure of a frame
type field 1200 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0125] Referring to FIG. 12, the frame type field 1200 indicates
whether the video content included in the video content frame 1000
has been compressed by a first codec, which is a default codec, or
one of second codecs provided by codec vendors.
[0126] The default codec may be an H.264 codec.
[0127] The frame type field 1010 may further include an identifier
of a codec used for compression of the video content included in
the compressed video payload field 1040 of the video content frame
1000.
[0128] For example, the frame type field 1200 having a value of 0
indicates that the first codec has been used to compress the video
content; the frame type field 1200 having a value of 1 indicates
that one of the second codecs has been used for the
compression.
[0129] The size of the frame type field 1200 is 1 bit as shown in
FIG. 12. However, the size of the frame type field 1200 may
alternatively be more than one bit.
[0130] FIG. 13 is a diagram for describing a structure of a frame
type field 1300 according to another exemplary embodiment.
[0131] Referring to FIG. 13, the frame type field 1300 may include
a first field 1310 and a second field 1320.
[0132] The first field 1310 indicates whether the video content
included in the video content frame 1000 has been compressed by the
first codec, which is the default codec, or by one of the second
codecs provided by codec vendors.
[0133] The second field 1320 indicates which one of the second
codecs has been used to compress the video content included in the
video content frame 1000.
[0134] For example, the second field 1320 may include an identifier
of the second codec used to compress the video content included in
the video content frame 1000.
[0135] In another exemplary embodiment, the frame type field 1310
may include the second field 1302 only when the video content
included in the video content frame 1000 has been compressed by one
of the second codecs.
[0136] A receiving side which has received the video content frame
1000 including the frame type field 1310 shown in FIG. 13 reads the
first field 1310. If the receiving side determines that the video
content included in the video content frame 1000 has been
compressed by the first codec, the receiving side may ignore and
not read the second field 1320.
[0137] The sizes of the first field 1310 and the second field 1320
may vary without being limited to 1 bit and N bits shown in FIG.
13.
[0138] FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing a structure of a frame
type field 1400 according to another exemplary embodiment.
[0139] Referring to FIG. 14, the frame type field 1400 is a field
having a size of N bits. The frame type field 1400 indicates which
one of the first codec, that is, the default codec, and the second
codecs provided by codec vendors has been used to compress the
video content included in the video content frame 1000.
[0140] For example, the frame type field 1400 may include an
identifier of the codec used to compress the video content included
in the video content frame 1000 among the first codec and the
second codecs.
[0141] FIG. 15 is a diagram for describing a structure of a
capability request frame 1500 according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0142] Referring to FIG. 15, the capability request frame 1500 may
include a compression capability field 1510, a number of vendor
specific codec field (Number of Vendor Specific Codec) 1520, and
vendor specific codec identifier fields (VendorSpecificCodecID
#1-#N) 1530.
[0143] The compression capability field 1510 indicates whether the
first device supports a video content compression capability.
[0144] The number of vendor specific codec field 1520 indicates the
number of vendor specific codecs supported by the first device.
[0145] The vendor specific codec identifier fields 1530 indicate an
identifier of at least one codec supported by the first device. In
FIG. 15, N vendor codec identifier fields 1530 corresponding to N
codecs are shown.
[0146] FIG. 16 is a diagram for describing a structure of a
capability response frame 1600 according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0147] Referring to FIG. 16, the capability response frame 1600 may
include a codec capability field 1610, a number of vendor specific
codec field 1620, and vendor specific codec identifier fields
(Vendor Specific Codec ID #1-#N) 1630. The capability response
frame 1600 has the same structure as the capability request frame
1500 shown in FIG. 15.
[0148] The codec capability field 1610 indicates whether the second
device supports a video content compression capability.
[0149] The number of vendor specific codec field 1620 indicates the
number of vendor specific codecs supported by the second
device.
[0150] The vendor specific codec identifier fields 1630 indicate an
identifier of at least one codec supported by the second device. In
FIG. 16, N vendor specific codec identifier fields 1630
corresponding to N codecs are shown.
[0151] FIG. 17 is a diagram for describing information 1700 about a
capability of the first device (or first device capability
information 1700) according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0152] Referring to FIG. 17, the first device capability
information 1700 may include a codec support field 1710, a codec
number field 1720, and codec identifier fields 1730.
[0153] The codec support field 1710 indicates whether the first
device supports second codecs provided by codec vendors.
[0154] The size of the codec support field 1710 is 1 bit as shown
in FIG. 17. However, alternatively, the size of the codec support
field 1710 may be more than one bit.
[0155] The codec number field 1720 is a field having a size of x
bits, indicating the number of second codecs supported by the first
device.
[0156] The codec identifier fields 1730 are fields having a size of
y bits, indicating identifiers of the second codecs supported by
the first device.
[0157] A receiving side having received the first device capability
information 1700 shown in FIG. 17 reads the codec support field
1710, and may ignore and not read the codec number field 1720 and
the codec identifier fields 1730 if it is determined that the first
device does not support the second codecs.
[0158] FIG. 18 is a diagram for describing the first device
capability information 1700 according to another exemplary
embodiment.
[0159] Referring to FIG. 18, the first device capability
information 1700 may include the codec support field 1710 and the
codec number field 1720.
[0160] The codec support field 1710 and the codec number field 1720
shown in FIG. 18 have the same structures as the codec support
field 1710 and the codec number field 1720 shown in FIG. 17, and
thus will not be described in detail.
[0161] The first device capability information 1700 shown in FIGS.
17 and 18 may be included in the capability request frame 1500.
[0162] FIG. 19 is a block diagram of an apparatus 1910 for
transmitting video contents, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0163] Referring to FIG. 19, the apparatus 1910 may include a
transmission unit 1912 and a reception unit 1914. It is assumed
that the apparatus 1910 is mounted on a first device (not shown) in
the current exemplary embodiment. However, in another exemplary
embodiment, the apparatus 1910 may be the first device. For
convenience of explanation, a second device 1920 is further shown
in FIG. 19. The transmission unit 1912 and the reception unit 1914
may each be circuits configured to transmit and receive signals,
respectively.
[0164] The transmission unit 1912 transmits a codec selection
request frame including an identifier of at least one codec to be
used for compression of at least one video content to the second
device 1920.
[0165] The reception unit 1914 receives a codec selection response
frame including at least one approval information indicating
whether the use of the at least one codec is approved from the
second device 1920.
[0166] The transmission unit 1912, upon receiving the codec
selection response frame, transmits video content frames for the at
least one video content compressed by the approved at least one
codec to the second device, based on the codec selection response
frame.
[0167] The transmission unit 1912 may further transmit a capability
request frame, which includes an identifier of at least one codec
supported by the first device and requests information about a
capability of the second device 1920, to the second device 1920.
The reception unit 1914 may further receive a capability response
frame, which includes an identifier of at least one codec supported
by the second device 1920 in response to the capability request
frame, from the second device 1920.
[0168] The transmission unit 1912 may further transmit first device
capability information to the second device 1920, and the reception
unit 1914 may further receive the identifier of the at least one
codec supported by the second device from the second device
1920.
[0169] The exemplary embodiments can be embodied as a program that
can be implemented on computers and embedded devices and can be
implemented in general-purpose digital computers that execute the
program using recording media.
[0170] Examples of the recording media include magnetic storage
media such as read-only memory (ROM), floppy disks, and hard disks,
and optical data storage devices such as CD-ROMs and digital
versatile discs (DVD).
[0171] While the present inventive concept has been particularly
shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments
thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following
claims. Accordingly, the disclosed exemplary embodiments should be
considered in a descriptive sense and not in a restrictive sense.
The scope of the present inventive concept will be defined by the
appended claims, and differences in scope equivalent to the
appended claims should be construed as being included in the
present inventive concept.
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